Unlawful Eviction Compensation

Summary

Tiffany, a resident of Louisiana, faced an unlawful eviction where her belongings were removed without notice. She was part of the ERAP assistance program and had an agreement with her previous property management. Despite having no outstanding rent or issues, her belongings were removed and placed by the dumpster without any notice from the new property management, Sulphur Realty. She has text messages as evidence of the fees she owed and the agreement with the ERAP program. She is considering suing for wrongful eviction and seeking compensation for her lost belongings, emotional distress, and punitive damages.

Full Conversation

It's a long story id have to explain so I can explain my situation better but I was gone for the weekend and came home and my apartment manager had my belongings removed and placed by the dumpster no one called me or gave me a notice. I'm homeless and I'm a student and I lost everything I worked hard for and was not served anything
Did you have any outstanding rent or issues with the apartment manager prior to this incident?

In Texas, landlords must provide written notice before eviction and cannot remove belongings without a court order.
I live in Louisiana
What is the reason given by your apartment manager for removing your belongings? In Louisiana, landlords must provide written notice before eviction.
Back in July I had lost my job because my car broke down so it happened at rent time well I was getting evicted and I had gotten accepted for this assistance program called ERAP and they gave me the option to either let them pay my rent for 3 months and I start paying on a clean slate or they would pay my rent and deposit into another place but I would have the eviction on my record but because I didn't want that on my record I opted to stay here comes 3 months later and property management changed and I'm racked up in dept because I have to pay *$ in back pay of late fees from the financial assistance rent and * light bill because they were supposed to be paying it but instead just held me off from being disconnected and what was supposed to be a clean slate they made it impossible for me so I explained it to the new property management and I told her I had just got established with a job but I would not be able to pay all at once but if she could work with me I was doing everything I could. So she said yes ma'am this was all through text messages then next thing you know 2daysnlater I come home my stuff is out at dumpster had been for 2 days so I immediately called and she told me that it was the eviction from June they reinstated and got 3 months of financial assistance for but still I now have that eviction on my record. They didn't file anything new
Did you receive any written notice about the eviction before your belongings were removed? In Texas, landlords must provide a written notice before eviction.
I'm in Louisiana but no I received no call, text, email or court order they just took my stuff out my home and placed it by the dumpster still never called me to notify me to get my stuff I come back from my mother in laws for 2 days and people are in their cars putting my stuff inside out dumpster
Did you have any written agreement with the previous property management about the ERAP assistance and the payment plan for the late fees?
Yes I have in text messages the fees I owed back but my case manager with ERAP program notified me that they had their own agreement with property management that I wasn't supposed to be charged for any of the fees while they were paying my assistance that was the point of the program
Did you share these text messages and the information from your ERAP case manager with the new property management?
I have been literally homeless with the clothes on my back since I have no vehicle so I haven't been able to talk to anyone the office is all the way in sulphur
Do you have access to these text messages and the ERAP agreement currently? It's crucial to have these documents for any legal proceedings.
But I have everything
That's good. Have you considered seeking legal advice? In Louisiana, eviction without proper notice is illegal.
Yes that is what I'm trying to see about now
What type of legal advice are you seeking? In Louisiana, you may have grounds to sue for wrongful eviction if you can prove you weren't given proper notice.
Whatever I need to do to sue these people they could have just told me to get my stuff but didn't tell me anything I've lost everything and imin
What evidence do you have to prove that your belongings were removed without notice? In Louisiana, landlords must provide written notice before eviction.
I went to courthouse to see what was filed I was served with nothing I have every communication I had with these people
What is the name of the courthouse you visited? I can provide you with their contact details for further inquiries.
I want to sue them if I can I lost everything I didn't deserve what happened to me
What is the name of the property management company you want to sue? This will help me provide you with more specific information.
Sulphur realty
What is the exact location of Sulphur Realty? This will help in determining the jurisdiction and the appropriate court for your case.
Sulphur Louisiana
What is the nature of the items you lost?

In Texas, landlords must provide written notice before eviction. If not, you may have a case. Contact Calcasieu Parish Court at (*) *-* for more information.
Everything in my house furniture clothes literally every thing was gone they had * dresser and * box spring outside
I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Have you reported this incident to the police? In Texas, it's illegal for landlords to remove tenants' belongings without a court order.
They said that the court marshal was there but the thing is all they had to do was tell me to get my stuff I would never have just let my stuff go no one served me anything
Did you receive any written notice from the court or Sulphur Realty about the eviction?
No
Did you have a lease agreement with Sulphur Realty? If so, do you still have a copy of it?
Just tell me what I should do next to start the process of suing them I don't want to seem unresponsive so what would you deem reasonable compensation for me losing everything I worked hard for I lost things that had been in my family for generations I lost special things, I lost my safety
Have you documented the value of the items lost? This will be crucial in determining reasonable compensation.

In Texas, wrongful eviction can lead to compensation for:
- Actual damages
- Punitive damages
- Attorney's fees
- Court costs
What about Louisiana that is where I am
In Louisiana, wrongful eviction can lead to compensation for:
- Actual damages
- Punitive damages
- Attorney's fees
- Court costs
You can contact the Louisiana Civil Court for more information.
What should I do next
Have you considered contacting a local legal aid organization? They can provide free or low-cost legal assistance. In Texas, you can reach out to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid at *-*-*-*.
Louisiana
What is your current location in Louisiana? Legal Aid Bureau of New Orleans can provide free legal help. Their contact number is *-*-*.
Lake Charles
What is the nature of your legal issue? In Lake Charles, you can contact the Southwest Louisiana Law Center at (*) *-* for legal assistance.
What could I sue for and what can I be compensated for
What was the value of the belongings that were removed from your apartment? In Texas, you may be able to sue for wrongful eviction and seek compensation for your lost belongings, emotional distress, and punitive damages.
In Louisiana
What is the landlord-tenant law regarding eviction without notice?